Spinning illuminated novelty device and its associated method of manufacture

ABSTRACT

A novelty item that spins reflective elements to produce a circular pattern of light. As the reflective elements spin, they receive and reflect light that is emitted by at least one light source. As the reflective elements reflect light from the light source, the reflective elements appear to be light sources themselves. Accordingly, as the reflective elements rotate, they produce a circular pattern of light. Since the reflective elements cannot always reflect light back into the line of sight of the observer, the reflected light in the created circular pattern of light seems to randomly change. By providing a novelty device that utilizes rotating reflective elements, a spinning pattern of light can be produced that is more interesting to observe and far less expensive to produce than similar devices that spin actual electric light sources.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to illuminated novelty devices thatare used to produce observable patterns of light during low lightconditions. More particularly, the present invention relates to suchnovelty devices where the observed pattern of light is produced from anarray of spinning light sources.

[0003] 2. Prior Art Statement

[0004] In the prior art, there are many different types of illuminatednovelty devices that produce an observable pattern of light. Suchdevices are not used for the purposes of illumination, like aflashlight. Rather, such novelty devices are merely used to produce aninteresting pattern of light that can be observed during low lightconditions. Such novelty devices are commonly sold or distributed atevents that are frequented by children and where there are low lightconditions. Examples of such events include children's concerts, thecircus, amusement parks at night, fireworks displays and the like.

[0005] There is a great variety in the types of illuminated noveltydevices that exist. Some illuminated novelty devices use chemicalluminescent light sources, where the observed light is created from achemical reaction. Such chemical luminescent devices, however, cannot beselectively turned on and off once the chemical reaction has started.Furthermore, after a few hours, the chemical reaction ends and thenovelty device is incapable of producing light. Furthermore, mostchemical compositions used to produce light are toxic. Accordingly, theuse of chemical luminescent novelty devices is inappropriate for manyyoung children who may bite or teethe on the device.

[0006] Other types of illuminated novelty devices use batteries toprovide power to either incandescent bulbs or light emitting diodes(LEDs). Often, to increase the interest of the pattern of light producedby the device, motors are used to move the electric light sources whenthey are illuminated. One popular type of illuminated novelty device isa device where multiple electric light sources are positioned at the tipof flexible arms. The flexible arms are attached to a hub that issupported by a handle. In the handle is a motor that spins the hub whenactivated. As such, when a user activates the motor, the hub spins andthe lights at the ends of the arms illuminate. The result is a circularpattern of light that is interesting to observe especially in low lightconditions.

[0007] A problem associated with spinning electric novelty devices isone of available power. The battery source used in the spinning noveltylight is used to both rotate the lights and illuminate the lights.Furthermore, the more lights that are used, the more power is needed toboth spin the lights and illuminate the lights. In order to save powerand extend battery life, spinning novelty lights are often manufacturedusing low power, low output light sources. These light sources cantherefore only be seen during very low light conditions. During normallighting conditions, the lights from the low output lights can barely beobserved.

[0008] A need therefore exists for a spinning novelty light thatproduces a high yield light, yet utilizes less power and can bemanufactured at a lower cost than prior art spinning lights. This needis met by the present invention as described and claimed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention is a novelty item that spins reflectiveelements. As the reflective elements spin, they receive and reflectlight that is emitted by at least one light source. As the reflectiveelements reflect light from the light source, the reflective elementsappear to be light sources themselves. Accordingly, as the reflectiveelements rotate, they produce a circular pattern of light. Since thereflective elements cannot always reflect light back into the line ofsight of the observer, the reflected light in the created circularpattern of light seems to randomly change.

[0010] The reflective elements can also be colored or contain refractivepatterns. As such, when light is reflected from one of the reflectiveelements, the reflective light can be colored or appear to change colordepending upon the angle of observance.

[0011] By providing a novelty device that utilizes rotating reflectiveelements, a spinning pattern of light can be produced that is moreinteresting to observe and far less expensive to produce than similardevices that spin actual electric light sources.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference ismade to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof,considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a selectively cross-sectioned view of the embodimentshown in FIG. 1; and

[0015]FIG. 3 is an alternate exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention device 10 is show. The device 10 contains a handle 12. Thehandle 12 supports a hub 14. Arms 16 radially extend from the hub 14. Inthe shown embodiment, three arms 16 extend from the hub 14. However, itshould be understood that such a number is arbitrary and any number ofarms 16 can be made to radially extend from the hub 14.

[0017] In the shown embodiment, one of the arms 16 supports a lightsource 20 in a fixed position. The light source 20 can be anincandescent bulb, but is preferably a high-output light emitting diode(LED). The light emitted by the light source 20 can be any color,depending upon the type of bulb or LED selected. Although only one lightsource is specifically illustrated on one arm, it should be understoodthat more than one light source can be mounted on more than one arm.

[0018] Each light source 20 is held in a fixed orientation by an arm 16.As such, the direction of light emitted by that light source 20 can bereadily determined. The other arms 16 that extend from the hub 14 areused to support at least one reflective element 22. The reflectiveelements 22 each have a reflective face surface 23. The face surface 23of each reflective element 22 is oriented to receive light emitted by atleast one of the light sources 20. Accordingly, each reflective element22 receives light emitted from a light source 20 and reflects that lightin a different direction. The reflective elements 22 therefore have theappearance of being light sources themselves as they rotate and producea pattern of light to an observer. As the reflective elements 22 rotate,they do not always reflect light directly toward the line of sight ofany particular observer. Rather, the reflective elements 22 will produceflashes of light to an observer as the reflective elements 22 spin.Accordingly, the circular pattern of lights created by the reflectiveelements 22 will appear to randomly flash and change as reflectiveelements 22 rotate.

[0019] The hub 14 rotates relative the handle 12. Accordingly, as thehub 14 rotates, the arms 16 extending from the hub 14 also rotate. Asthe hub 14 and arms 16 spin, current is directed to the light source 20.Consequently, the light source 20 illuminates and shines light againstthe reflective elements 22. The reflective elements 22 reflect the lightto an observer. Thus, a device with only one or a few actual lightsources can have the appearance of a device with many light sources.

[0020] The reflective elements 22 can be any reflective material capableof reflecting the light emitted by the light source 20. Metal foils andMylar(TM) foils work well. The reflective elements can be colored orcontain printed diffraction patterns that change color as a function ofthe point of observance. In this manner, the reflective elements 22 canreflect the light from the light source 20 in colors different from thecolor produced by the light source 20 and in colors that change as thereflective elements 22 spin relative an observer.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that in the handle 12, thereis a port 25 for holding batteries 27. The power from the batteries 27is used to both illuminate the light source 20 and rotate the hub 14.

[0022] The hub 14 is connected to a shaft assembly 24 that extendsupwardly from the handle 12. The shaft assembly 24 contains a conductiveinner shaft 26 and a conductive outer shaft 28. The inner shaft 26 andthe outer shaft 28 are insulated from each other using spacers 30 thatare disposed in between the inner shaft 26 and the outer shaft 28. Thespacers 30 also act as bearings between the inner shaft 26 and the outershaft 28. As such, the outer shaft 28 is free to rotate independently ofthe inner shaft 26.

[0023] In the hub 14, there is located a first connector 32 that spinsaround the inner shaft 26 and makes electrical contact with the innershaft 26. In the hub 14 is also located a second connector 34. Thesecond connector 34 is coupled to both the structure of the hub 14 andthe outer shaft 28. Two leads extend from the light source 20. One leadfrom every light source is coupled to the inner shaft 26, via the firstconnector 32. Similarly, the second wire from each light source 20 iscoupled to the outer shaft 28, via the second connector 34.

[0024] The inner shaft 26 is coupled to the battery port utilizing awire pathway 38. The wire pathway 38 is disrupted by an on/off switch 40that can be manually activated by a person holding the handle 12.Accordingly, a person holding the handle 12 can selectively control theon/off switch 40 and therefore can control the flow of electrical powerto the inner shaft 26.

[0025] The opposite terminal of the battery port 25 is coupled to awiping contact 42. The wiping contact 42 presses against the outer shaft28 of the shaft assembly 24. Accordingly, when the on/off switch 40 ismanually closed, a circuit is completed. The circuit starts at oneterminal of the battery port 25 and then travels through the inner shaft26 up to the light source 20. The circuit then returns to the oppositebattery port terminal from the light source 20 through the outer shaft28, via the wiping contact 42. It should therefore be understood thateach time the on/off switch 40 is pressed closed, the light source 20illuminates.

[0026] A drive gear 44 is disposed around the inner shaft 26. However,the drive gear 44 is not attached to the inner shaft 26 and thereforespins freely about the inner shaft 26. The drive gear 44 has aprotrusion 46 that engages the spacer 30 between the inner shaft 26 andthe outer shaft 28. Accordingly, when the drive gear 44 spins, the drivegear 44 turns the spacer 30, thereby turning the outer shaft 28. Theouter shaft 28 is connected to the hub 14. Consequently, when the outershaft 28 spins, the hub 14 spins. However, the connection between thegear hub 14 and the spacer 30 is only a friction connection.Accordingly, should the hub 14 be prevented from spinning due to contactwith a foreign object, the drive gear 44 will still spin independentlyof the spacer 30. This friction interconnection acts as a clutch andprevents the drive gear 44 from becoming damaged should the spinning hub14 ever suddenly strike an object and stop spinning.

[0027] The drive gear 44 is turned by a pinion gear 48. The pinion gear48 is directly turned by the electric motor 50. Accordingly, when theelectric motor 50 is activated, the motor 50 turns the pinion gear 48,that turns the drive gear 44, that turns the outer shaft 28, that turnsthe hub 14, that turns the arms 16.

[0028] The wire pathway that connects the electric motor 50 to thebattery port 25 also passes through the on/off switch 40. Consequently,when the on/off switch 40 is pressed, power is supplied to the lightsource 20 and power is supplied to the motor 50 that turns the hub 14.

[0029] In the embodiment of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, both the light source 20and the reflective elements 22 spin. In order to provide power to thelight source 20 as it spins, the assembly 10 requires the use of acomplex shaft and wiping contacts, as has been previously described. Tomake the assembly less expensive, the light source 20 can be made to bestationary. This embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 3, itcan be seen that a plurality of light sources 60 are mounted to astationary arm 62. The light sources 60 can emit light of the same coloror different colors. A hub 64 is disposed around the base of thestationary arm 62. The hub 64 spins. However, when the hub 64 spins, thestationary arm 62 remains stationary. Since the stationary arm 62supports the light sources 60, the light sources 60 can be directlywired to the power source within the handle 66 with a simple wirepathway. This eliminates the need for a wiping contact and insulatedshafts.

[0030] The hub 64 that spins around the stationary arm 62 supportsreflective elements 68. Each reflective element 68 has a reflectivesurface that receives and reflects light emitted by the light sources60. Accordingly, as the reflective elements 68 spin around the lightsources 60, the reflective elements 68 appear to an observer to be lightsources that are producing a circular pattern of light as they spin.

[0031] In all the embodiments described, the reflective elements serveas virtual light sources. Thus, by using only one, or a few, real lightsources and a plurality of reflective elements, a circular pattern oflight having, what appears to be, many different source of light can beproduced. Furthermore by using diffraction patterns on the reflectiveelements, a pattern of light with changing colors can be producedwithout the need for any electronic circuitry.

[0032] By reducing the number of real light sources used to create thecircular pattern of light, power requirements are reduced. Furthermore,costs associated with wiring multiple light sources are removed.Accordingly, an illuminated novelty device is produced that uses lesspower and is cheaper to manufacture than prior art devices that do notuse reflective elements.

[0033] It will be understood that the embodiments of the presentinvention specifically described and illustrated are merely exemplaryand the shown embodiments can be modified in many ways. For example, thenumber of light sources, reflective elements and arms used in any oneassembly can be varied in any manner by a designer. Furthermore, theappearance of the reflective elements can be varied. In the shownembodiment, the reflective elements have an oval shape. This shape canbe varied into any shape including recognizable object shapes such asMickey Mouse ears, dinosaurs and the like. All such alternateembodiments and variations are intended to be included within the scopeof the claims as listed below.

What is claimed is:
 1. An illuminated assembly, comprising: a hub; amotor for rotating said hub; a plurality of arms extending from saidhub; at least one light source supported by at least one of saidplurality of arms; at least one reflective element supported by at leastone of said plurality of arms, wherein said at least one reflectiveelement receives and reflects light emitted by said at least one lightsource when said hub is rotated by said motor.
 2. The assembly accordingto claim 1, further including a handle element for supporting said hub,wherein said motor is disposed within said handle.
 3. The assemblyaccording to claim 2, wherein said assembly has a single light sourceand multiple reflective elements.
 4. The assembly according to claim 1,wherein said at least one light source is a light emitting diode.
 5. Theassembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one reflectiveelement is colored and reflects light of a predetermined color.
 6. Theassembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one reflectiveelement has a diffraction pattern printed thereon.
 7. An illuminatedassembly, comprising: a light source; a plurality of reflectiveelements; a motor for rotating said plurality of reflective elementsaround a central axis, wherein said plurality of reflective elementreceives and reflects light emitted by said light source as saidplurality of reflective elements rotate about said central axis.
 8. Theassembly according to claim 7, wherein said light source is mounted at astationary point along said central axis.
 9. The assembly according toclaim 7, wherein said light source is rotated about said central axis bysaid motor.
 10. The assembly according to claim 7, further including aplurality of arms that are rotated by said motor, wherein saidreflective elements are supported by at least some of said arms.
 11. Theassembly according to claim 10, wherein said light source is supportedby one of said arms.
 12. The assembly according to claim 7, furtherincluding a handle element, wherein said motor is disposed within saidhandle element.
 13. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein saidassembly has a single light source and multiple reflective elements. 14.The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said light source is a lightemitting diode.
 15. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said atleast one of said reflective elements is colored and reflects light of apredetermined color.
 16. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein atleast one of said reflective elements has a diffraction pattern printedthereon.
 17. A method of producing a circular pattern of light,comprising the steps of: providing a hand-held assembly containing atleast one light source and a plurality of reflective elements; rotatingsaid reflective elements in a circular pattern, wherein said reflectiveelements receive and reflect light from said at least one light sourcewhile rotating in said circular pattern, thereby producing a circularpattern of light to a person observing said reflective elements as theyrotate.
 18. The method according to claim 17, further including the stepof rotating said at least one light source in a circular pattern.